Composite container for liquids

ABSTRACT

The bulk bag comprising a bottom wall, double layer end walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall, double layer side wall portions extending upwardly from the bottom wall and perpendicularly to the end walls, double layer pivotally supported side walls hingedly secured to the side wall portions, stiffening panels received between the double layers of the end walls, the side wall portions, and the pivotally supported side walls, and fasteners for securing the pivotally supported side walls in alignment with the side wall portions.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application under C.F.R. 1.53 ofapplication Ser. No. 09/390,403, filed Sep. 3, 1999, currently pending.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This invention relates generally to flexible intermediate bulkcontainers also known as bulk bags, and more particularly to a compositecontainer for receiving, storing, transporting, and discharging liquidswhich is adapted for stacking.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Historically, flexible intermediate bulk containers (bulk bags)have been used for receiving, storing, transporting and dischargingflowable materials of all types. Bulk bags are typically constructed insquare, vertically rectangular, or circular shapes with lift strapsattached to each of the uppermost corners of the square, rectangle orcircle.

[0004] By way of example, flexible intermediate bulk containers are usedfor handling flowable materials in granular or powder form such aschemicals, minerals, fertilizers, foodstuffs, grains and agriculturalproducts, etc. The advantages of such receptacles include relatively lowweight, reduced cost, versatility and, in the case of reusablereceptacles, low return freight costs.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,859 discloses a bulk bag adapted for use withliquids. The bulk bag of the '859 patent comprises four double layerside walls. Stiffeners formed from cardboard are inserted between thelayers of the side walls thereby imparting sufficient rigidity to thecontainer to permit its use with liquids. Although the bag of the '859patent has been generally well received, its utilization is somewhatlimited by the fact that it cannot be stacked to facilitate thetransportation and storage of the bags and the contents thereof.

[0006] The present invention comprises an improved bulk bag design whichovercomes the foregoing and other problems long since associated withthe prior art. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention,a bulk bag comprises four double layered side walls. The side wallsreceive stiffener panels which are formed from wood. Sleeves provided ateach corner of the bulk bag receive stiffener rods also formed fromwood. The bulk bag is provided with a double layered top which alsoreceives a stiffener panel formed from wood.

[0007] When the bulk bag of the present invention is used to receive,store, transport and discharge liquids, it is typically provided with aliner comprising film formed from a plastic material such aspolyethylene. In such instances the bulk bag may be provided withbaffles extending diagonally across each interior corner of the bulk bagto prevent the liner from pinching into the corners. When used, thebaffles are preferably provided with stiffener panels formed from wood.

[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, double layerdividers extend across the interior of the container from the midpointsof the side walls, thereby dividing the interior of the container intofour quadrants. When employed, the divider panels are preferablyprovided with stiffener panels formed from wood.

[0009] The use of the present invention is highly advantageous inreceiving, storing, transporting, and discharging liquids. For example,the present invention is readily adapted to receiving, storing,transporting and discharging orange juice, tomato paste, and otherfoodstuffs. Containers constructed in accordance with the invention areadapted for stacking. For example, certain embodiments of the inventioncan be stacked one on top of the other to a total height of sixcontainers. The stackability of the container of the present inventionis highly advantageous in facilitating transportation and storage of thecontainers and the materials contained therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] A more complete understanding of the invention may be had byreference to the following Detailed Description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a first embodiment of theinvention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the foldability of thefirst embodiment of the invention;

[0013]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment ofthe invention;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a container top useful in thepractice of the invention;

[0015]FIG. 5 is an illustration of the construction of the top of FIG.4;

[0016]FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of a second embodiment ofthe invention;

[0017]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the foldability of thesecond embodiment of the invention;

[0018]FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment ofthe invention;

[0019]FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of a first variation of thesecond embodiment of the invention;

[0020]FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of a second variation ofthe second embodiment of the invention;

[0021]FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of a third embodiment ofthe invention;

[0022]FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic illustration of the foldability of thethird embodiment of the invention;

[0023]FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic illustration of a fourth embodiment ofthe invention;

[0024]FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic illustration of the foldability of thefourth embodiment of the invention;

[0025]FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the fourth embodimentof the invention;

[0026]FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic illustration of a fifth embodiment ofthe invention; and

[0027]FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic illustration of the foldability of thefifth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and3 thereof, there is shown a bulk bag 20 comprising a first embodiment ofthe invention. The bulk bag 20 comprises a bottom wall 22 and fourdouble layer side walls 24, 26, 28, and 30. The bottom wall 22 and thedouble layer side walls 24, 26, 28, and 30 are preferably fabricatedfrom woven polypropylene fabric and are joined together by sewing in theconventional manner. Other materials and fabrication techniques can beused in constructing the bulk bag 20 depending upon the requirements ofparticular applications of the invention.

[0029] The double layer side walls 24 and 28 each receive a one piecestiffener panel 34. The double layer side walls 26 and 30 each receive apair of stiffener panels 36. The use of the pairs of stiffener panels 36in the side walls 26 and 30 facilitates the folding of the bulk bag 20for storage and transportation prior to its ultimate utilization in themanner illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0030] The sleeves 32 each receive a corner stiffener rod 38. Thestiffener rods 38 are preferably formed from wood and are preferablyrectangular or square in configuration. The stiffener panels 34 and 36which are received in the double layer side walls of the bulk bag 20 arepreferably formed from oil impregnated five-ply plywood. Otherconventional materials may be utilized in the practice of the invention,if desired.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the bulk bag 20 is provided witha top 40. The top 40 includes a double layer top wall 42 and asurrounding skirt 44. The top 40 is provided with a plurality ofconventional fasteners 46 which cooperate with fastener receivingmembers 48 secured to the side walls of the container 20 to secure thetop 40 in place. As is best shown in FIG. 5, the double layer top wall42 receives a stiffener panel 50 which may be formed from oilimpregnated five-ply plywood or other conventional materials inaccordance with the requirements and particular applications of theinvention.

[0032] A bulk bag 60 comprising a third embodiment of the invention asillustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8. The bulk bag 60 is identical to thebulk bag 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, inclusive, and describedhereinabove in conjunction therewith except that the bulk bag 60 isprovided with double layer baffles 62 extending diagonally across theinterior corners of the bulk bag. The double layer baffles 62 arefabricated from woven polypropylene fabric and are connected to thedouble layer side walls of the bulk bag 60 by sewing in the conventionalmanner. Each double layer baffle 62 is provided with a pair of stiffenerpanels 64 which are preferably formed from oil impregnated five-plyplywood, it being understood that other conventional materials may beutilized in the fabrication of the bulk bag 60 and in the fabrication ofthe stiffener panels thereof in accordance with the requirements ofparticular applications of the invention.

[0033] The use of two stiffener panels 64 in each baffle 62 allows thebaffles 62 to folded inwardly. The use of two stiffener panels 36 in theside walls 26 and 30 of the bulk bag 60 allows the side walls 26 and 30to be folded inwardly. In this manner the bulk bag 60 is adapted forfolding into the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, therebyfacilitating the transportation and storage of the bulk bag prior to itsultimate utilization.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown a bulk bag 70 comprising avariation of the second embodiment of the invention. The bulk bag 70differs from the bulk bag 60 in that the opposed double layer side walls26 and 30 thereof are each provided with two stiffeners 72 locatedadjacent the ends of the side walls, and two stiffeners 74 located inthe mid-portion of each side wall. The stiffeners 74 may be completelyseparate or hingedly interconnected depending on the requirements of theparticular applications of the invention. The stiffeners 72 and 74 arepreferably formed from oil impregnated by five-ply plywood, however,other conventional materials may be utilized in the fabrication of thestiffeners 72 and 74 depending on the requirements of particularapplications of the invention.

[0035] A bulk bag 80 comprising a second variation of the secondembodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 10. The bulk bag 80differs from the bulk bag 70 illustrated in FIG. 9 and describedhereinabove in conjunction therewith in that the bulk bag 80 employs asingle stiffener 82 in the mid region of each of the double layer sidewalls 26 and 30. When the stiffeners 82 are utilized in lieu of thestiffeners 74, the side walls 26 and 30 of the bulk bag 80 are renderednon-foldable. This is advantageous in those applications of theinvention in which the contents of the bulk bag are discharged bytipping the bulk bag so that the contents thereof flow outwardly fromthe open top.

[0036] It will be understood that the stiffeners 82 of the bulk bag 80are interchangeable with the stiffeners 74 of the bulk bag 70. This isadvantageous in that the same basic bulk bag construction can beutilized in the construction of two entirely different bulk bag types.In this manner inventory requirements are reduced and the adaptabilityof the bulk bag to particular applications of the invention isfacilitated.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, there is shown a bulk bag 90comprising a third embodiment of the invention. The bulk bag 90 isvirtually identical to the bulk bag 60 illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. The bulk bag 90differs from the bulk bag 60 in that it is provided with a plurality ofadditional sleeves similar to the sleeves 32 and in that it is providedwith a plurality of additional stiffener rods 92 located in themid-regions of the double layer side walls comprising the bulk bags. Theadditional stiffener rods 92 are preferably formed from wood, however,the additional stiffener rods 92 may be formed from other conventionalmaterials depending upon the requirements of particularly applicationsof the invention. The use of the additional stiffener rods 92 isadvantageous in that it further increases the stackability of the bulkbag.

[0038] The use of two stiffener panels 64 in each of the baffles 62allows the baffles 62 to be folded inwardly. The use of two stiffenerpanels 36 and the use of duplicate additional stiffener rods 92 inconjunction with each of the double layer side walls 26 and 30 allowsthe side walls 26 and 30 to be folded inwardly. In this manner the bulkbag 90 may be folded into the configuration illustrated in FIG. 12 tofacilitate storage and transportation of the bulk bag prior to itsultimate utilization.

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, there is shown a bulk bag 100comprising a fourth embodiment of the invention. The bulk bag 100 isvirtually identical to the bulk bag 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. The bulk bag 100differs from the bulk bag 20 in that it is provided with perpendiculardouble layer dividers 102 which extend across the interior of the bulkbag from the mid-points of the side walls thereof. The dividers 102 arepreferably fabricated from woven polypropylene fabric and are secured tothe side walls of the bulk bag 100 by sewing in the conventional manner.The dividers 102 are each provided with four stiffener panels 104 whichare preferably formed from oil impregnated five-ply plywood. Otherconventional materials may be utilized in the fabrication of thedividers 102 and the stiffener panels 104 depending upon therequirements of particular applications of the invention.

[0040] The dividers 102 separate the interior of the bulk bag 100 intofour quadrants. This is advantageous in those applications of theinvention in which different materials are received, stored,transported, and discharged from the same bulk bag. The use of the bulkbag 100 is also advantageous in those applications of the invention inwhich it is desirable to discharge a portion of the contents of the bulkbag without disturbing the remaining contents thereof.

[0041] The use of two stiffener panels 36 in the side walls 26 and 30 ofthe bulk bag 100 facilitates the folding of the side walls 26 and 30inwardly. The use of multiple stiffener panels 104 in each double layerdivider 102 of the bulk bag 100 facilitates the folding of the dividers102. In this manner the bulk bag 100 can be folded into theconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 14 which facilitates storage andtransportation of the bulk bag 100 prior to its ultimate utilization.

[0042] Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 17, there is shown a bulk bag 110comprising the fifth embodiment of the invention. Many of the componentparts of the bulk bag 110 are substantially identical in constructionand function to component parts of the bulk bags illustrated in FIGS.1-15, inclusive, and described hereandabove in conjunction therewith.

[0043] The bulk bag 110 includes a bottom wall 112. End walls 114 andpartial side walls 116 are secured to the bottom wall 112 and extendupwardly therefrom. Baffles 118 are connected between the end walls 114and the partial side walls 116 and extend across the corners of the bulkbag 110.

[0044] The end walls 114 of the bulk bag 110 are provided with stiffenerpanels 124. Similarly, the partial side walls 116 are provided withstiffener panels 126. The stiffener panels 124 and 126 may be formedfrom oil impregnated 5-ply plywood, other types of plywood, mediumdensity fiberboard, and other, similar materials. Depending on theparticular application of the invention, the stiffener panels 124 and126 may also be formed from corrugated plastic panels. The baffles 118may also be provided with stiffener panels constructed from the sametypes and kinds of materials as the stiffener panels 124 and 126, ifdesired.

[0045] The bulk bag 110 further comprises pivotally supported side walls130. The pivotally supported side walls 130 are hingedly connected tothe partial side walls 116 by fabric hinges 132, but are not connectedto the bottom wall 112. The pivotally supported side walls 130 areprovided with stiffener panels 134. Like the stiffener panels 124 and126, the stiffener panels 134 may be formed from oil impregnated5-plywood, other types of plywood, medium density fiberboard, and/orother materials depending upon the requirements of particularapplications of the invention.

[0046] The pivotally supported side walls 130 may be secured inalignment with the partial side walls 116 by fasteners 136 which mayinclude a portion 138 mounted on one of the partial side walls 116 and acooperating portion 140 mounted on the corresponding pivotally supportedside wall 130. The fasteners 136 may comprise hook and loop-typefasteners of the type sold under the trademark “VELCRO”®. The fasteners136 may also comprise other conventional types and kinds of fastenerssuch as snaps, buckles, hook and eye-type fasteners, etc.

[0047] Referring particularly to FIG. 17, the use of the pivotallysupported side walls 130 in the construction of the bulk bag 110 isadvantageous in that the bulk bag 110 may be folded flat for shipment tothe customer. Upon receipt of the bulk bag 110, the customer simplyunfolds the bulk bag and engages the fasteners 136 with no furtherassembly being required. The use of the bulk bag 110 is furtheradvantageous in that by means of the pivotally supported side walls 130,a 50% increase in packing density is achieved, which in turn yields a50% reduction in transportation costs.

[0048] Although preferred embodiments of the invention have beenillustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoingDetailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is notlimited to the embodiments disclosed but is capable of numerousrearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of pares and elementswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A bulk bag comprising: a bottom wall; opposed end wallsextending upwardly from the bottom wall and having opposed ends; fourside wall portions extending upwardly from the bottom wall and havingopposed ends, one end of each side wall portion being secured to one endof one of the end walls; two pivotally supported side walls each havingopposed ends, one end of each pivotally supported side wall beinghingedly secured to one of the side wall portions; and fasteners forsecuring each pivotal side wall in alignment with two of the side wallportions.
 2. The bulk bag according to claim 1 wherein each of the endwalls comprises a double layer end wall and further including stiffenerpanels received between the double layers of the end walls
 3. The bulkbag according to claim 1 wherein each of the side wall portionscomprises a double layer side wall portion, and further includingstiffener panels received between the double layers of the side wallportions.
 4. The bulk bag according to claim 1 wherein each of thepivotally supported side walls comprises a double layer pivotallysupported side wall and further including stiffener panels receivedbetween the double layers of each of the pivotally supported side walls.5. The bulk bag according to claim 1 wherein the end walls, the sidewall portions, and the pivotally supported side walls each comprisedouble layer walls and further including stiffener panels receivedbetween the double layers of the end walls, the side wall portions, andthe pivotally supported side walls.
 6. The bulk bag according to claim 1further including baffles extending across the corners of the bulk bagand each connected between the opposed end walls and the ends of one ofthe side wall portions.
 7. The bulk bag according to claim 1 furtherincluding fabric hinges pivotally connecting the pivotally supportedside walls to the side wall portions.
 8. The bulk bag according to claim1 wherein the fasteners for securing the pivotally supported side wallsin alignment with the side wall portions comprise hook and loop typefasteners.
 9. The bulk bag according to claim 1 further including fabrichinges for pivotally securing the pivotally supported side walls to theside wall portions and wherein the fasteners for securing the pivotallysupported side walls in alignment with the side wall portions comprisehook and loop-type fasteners.
 10. The bulk bag according to claim 1 :wherein the end walls, the side wall portions, and the pivotallysupported side walls each comprise double layer walls; further includingstiffener panels received between the double layer walls comprising theend walls, the side wall portions, and the pivotally supported sidewalls; further including fabric hinges for pivotally supporting thepivotally supported side walls on the side wall portions; and whereinthe fasteners for securing the pivotally supported side walls inalignment with the side wall portions comprise hook and loop typefasteners.